Finally, beyond Van Ness the traffic started to move along out toward the Avenues. With luck now he’d be to Merryvale in ten minutes.

By the time he got home with the children and searched the house for some kind of a note, he was really worried. His wife didn’t simply disappear with no explanation.

He sent the kids to the backyard and got on the phone. His first call was to Erin Cochran but he got another answering machine. Next – a flash of insight – he called Moses McGuire, Frannie’s brother, bartending at the Little Shamrock.

‘She probably left you. I would have long ago.’

‘She wouldn’t have left the kids, Mose.’

‘Well, that’s probably true, you’re right.’

‘I don’t know where she is.’

Moses took a minute. ‘I wouldn’t worry about it, Diz. She’ll turn up.’

‘Well, that’s heartening. Thanks for the input.’ He hung up. Big help from the brother front. While he sat at the kitchen table contemplating his next call, the phone rang and he snatched at it.

‘Are you really worried?’

‘Some.’

‘You really don’t know where she is?’

‘No. I’m kidding you. Actually, she’s right here next to me. We just thought it would be fun to call you and say she was gone – see how you react.’

Moses got serious. ‘When did you last talk to her?’

‘This morning.’

‘You guys fight or anything?’

‘No.’

The line hummed with silence. Then, ‘I’d try Erin.’

‘I already did. She isn’t home.’

‘Maybe they went somewhere together and got hung up.’

‘Maybe,’ Hardy agreed. He didn’t want to alarm her brother any more than he already had. Moses had raised Frannie. He often said that of the ten things he cared most about, Frannie was the first eight. ‘Either Erin or one of her other friends.’

‘But she didn’t call you?’